Richard Commey vows to retain IBF Lightweight title against Lopez on Dec 14

Ghanaian world titlist Richard Commey will enter the ring on Saturday, 14 December 2019 at Madison Square Garden to defend his IBF lightweight strap against Teofimo Lopez.

The bout is on the triple-header on ESPN and ESPN Deportes which will see Terence “Bud” Crawford defend his WBO welterweight world title against undefeated mandatory challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas.

There is also the Michael “Mick” Conlan -Vladimir Nikitin featherweight grudge match

It will be Commey’s second defence since February when he clinched the vacant title after a second-round TKO over Isa Chaniev.

Commey (29-2, 24 KOs) defended his belt on 28 June where knocking down former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran four times before stopping him in the eighth round.

“I’m very excited to fight at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in my second world title defense against Teofimo Lopez,” Commey said.

“My lifelong dream of becoming a world champion became a reality through many years of hard work in my homeland of Ghana through the UK, Europe and finally in the United States.

”I want to thank everyone on my team for making this possible. On December 14, I will put on another spectacular performance in defending my world title for my fans in the arena and those watching on ESPN and around the world.”

Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs), at 22 years old, is one of boxing’s budding superstars a big-punching, big-talking fighter who has become the sport’s latest viral sensation.

He has won all three bouts this including a 12-round decision on 19 July over Japanese veteran Masayoshi Nakatani in a title eliminator.